WEATHER UPDATE: Snowfall Predictions Double for Long Island

A large portion of Long Island could see up to 6 inches of snow fall by the end of Saturday, according to the latest estimates from the National Weather Service.

Forecasts earlier on Saturday called for a maximum of 3 inches of snow on the island, but the “latest trends show the changeover to freezing rain/rain delayed a few hours,” the NWS said Saturday afternoon.

A winter weather advisory for the island went into effect at 1 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 1 a.m. Sunday.

Nassau County, along with western Suffolk, is now expected to receive 4-6 inches of snow. Parts of the South Shore in eastern Suffolk, as well as the Twin Forks, will likely see 2-3 inches of snow accumulations.

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“Moderate to locally heavy snow will fall into early this evening,” according to the winter weather advisory. “Then mix with and change to rain late this evening through midnight...before tapering off earlier Sunday morning.”

Only a glaze to a few-hundredths of an inch of ice accumulation is expected on Long Island, but that could be enough to cause some issues on the roadways.

“Snow covered roads coated with ice will make driving and walking hazardous,” the winter weather advisory says.

Despite the snow, Saturday’s high temperature will be a welcome 32 degrees, considering the recent record-breaking cold.

On Sunday, it will be a positively balmy 40 degrees, and while much of the remaining snow will melt, roads will likely be icy Sunday night when temperatures dip again to 15 degrees. On Monday, another freeze sets in, with the high reaching only 19 degrees, the NWS says.

Looking ahead, the next chance for more snow will come Tuesday night into Wednesday, the NWS says.

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